Jaylin Chu spent 14 years teaching himself how to play Irish music, after seeing a Riverdance performance when he was a middle school student in China, before moving to Ireland to study it in person for a one-year master's program.

Chu likes to study all types of music, including Indian and Chinese music, but he was particularly interested in playing Irish music in his youth. According to Chu, studying different musical cultures has, in turn, made him a better musician.

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"People from different countries have different personalities. So, by learning two different types of music, I can learn to hold the expression of the music better," he told CGTN Europe.

He added that as a simplified comparison, the emotions of traditional Han Chinese music and Irish music are different. Irish music usually has a little bit of sadness added to the melody, even when the song is meant to be happy.

"The rhythm is very important in Irish music and also the emotion I think is a little bit different," he said.

"Some people think the dancing tunes are very happy, but I think the dancing is like happy, but with a little bit of sadness in it.

"But there are some very happy tunes in Chinese music. It's a pure happiness."

Chu moved back to China to teach Irish music after he finished his master's program. But recently, a video of him playing the Irish song the Bucks of Oranmore on the Hulusi, a traditional Chinese instrument, became popular on Twitter, recording more than a quarter of a million views.

This positive attention has given him new opportunities to return to Ireland. "I plan to work as a musician and be like a bridge, or a link, between Irish culture and China," Chu said.

"I would really like to go back, especially after this video. Many people liked it and many Irish musicians invited me to play Irish sessions [an informal gathering where people play traditional Irish music].

"And so, I would like to go back to Ireland to play music and meet all my friends there after COVID-19 is beaten."

Video editor: Natália Luz.